Reading practice: "Shōwa no kodomo seikatsu e zukan" (Illustrated Guide to Daily Life of Showa Children)

My first library book in Japan. I wanted to start with something I could finish in 2 weeks. This picture book about children's daily life in the Shōwa period was perfect.

Here's the cover of 昭和の子ども生活絵図鑑 (Shōwa no kodomo seikatsu e zukan), created by a husband-and-wife team, Harumi Nagata (illustrator) and Tatsu Okunari (writer).

My library adventure begins

The best thing that happened recently: On impulse, I joined a local library.

Build self-discipline with Skritter, the kanji app

I owe it to Skritter for starting me on the habit of studying Japanese. It's the single best thing I ever spent money on for language-learning.

Blood, Sweat, and Pixels: book review

Making video games: a fun job?

Actually, making games is pretty hard, writes journalist Jason Schreier in Blood, Sweat, and Pixels: The Triumphant, Turbulent Stories Behind How Video Games Are Made.

JLPT N2 test-taking tips

I wouldn't have passed the JLPT without practicing test-taking skills that are specific to this exam.

Familiarity
It makes a world of difference to be familiar with JLPT-type questions.

JLPT N2 study post-mortem

The results are out: I passed the N2 with a respectable score of 161 out of 180. (Vocab/Grammar: 50, Reading: 60, Listening: 50)

Earlier, I wrote about what study materials I used to tackle each JLPT skill. This follow-up post is about lessons I learned from the final weeks of study:

• Plan for setbacks.
• Manage energy and motivation, not just time.
• Go wide instead of deep.
• The JLPT mainly tests test-taking!

Reading practice: "Totto-Chan: The Little Girl at the Window"

Just finished reading my first "long" book, Madogiwa no Totto-chan (窓ぎわのトットちゃん).

How I prepared for the JLPT N2

Here, I'll summarize three things:

(1) Most helpful study materials
(2) How I prepared for each JLPT section
(3) My 1 year of erratic study

A DS love affair

A little love story I wrote as a guest writer for Ladiesgamers.com, a handheld gaming news blog for women:

Introducing... JLPT N2!

A week ago, I took the N2 level of JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test).

I'd like to write several posts on the subject, by and by:

• How I prepared for the N2, over the 1 year that passed between my N3 and N2
• Post-mortem: Lessons learned from the final 10 weeks before test day
• Test-taking tips
• Review of N2 study materials or methods
• Motivation, sustaining it